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Pre-school Learning Alliance welcomes Beverley Hughes’s announcement that government is to hold back on proposed Ofsted fee rise

NEWS RELEASE

19 June 2008

Pre-school Learning Alliance welcomes Beverley Hughes’s announcement that government is to hold back on proposed Ofsted fee rise

Responding to the Children's Minister, Beverley Hughes's statement today that the Government was holding back on plans to increase the registration fees paid by early years settings to Ofsted, Steve Alexander, Chief Executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance, the largest voluntary provider of childcare in England said,

"This news will come as a relief to the Alliance's 15,000 members who were dismayed to be faced with proposed increases averaging at a staggering 1175 per cent. Our members contacted us in droves saying the proposed fee increases were the last straw in light of the mounting financial pressures they face as they strive to offer affordable quality childcare, and stay viable.

There is currently great instability in the childcare market and the timing of the proposed increases was particularly hard for providers to bear. Already settings in the private and voluntary sector — which deliver 89% of childcare in the country — are struggling to accommodate government interventions such as free childcare sessions and costs associated with the drive to improve quality in the workforce. Furthermore, they face competition from the maintained sector which enjoys favourable funding arrangements.

Early years providers are struggling to balance offering affordable childcare for parents with increasing operating costs and, for most, especially those operating in areas of deprivation, passing the increased costs on to parents is just not feasible.

The Minister's announcement shows that the government is listening to the concerns of providers and representations made by organisations such as the Alliance. We are pleased that they recognise the immediate need for stability in the sector and look forward to contributing to further discussions with the Minister and the Department on a longer term fees policy. That said, it is crucial that this and other cost pressures on providers are addressed — we would argue by long term supply side funding — in order for the Ten Year Strategy to deliver the success it promises for children and families."

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Kate Summerside
Pre-school Learning Alliance
T: 020 7697 2502
Out of hours press calls: 07956 499621
E: Kate Summerside

Notes for Editors:

  1. The Government announced that it intends to implement the new fee band structure and fee increases for 2008 and 2009 as proposed in the consultation ‘Future Approach to Fees and Subsidies’ and introduce only an incremental increase in 2010.
    http://www.dfes.gov.uk/consultations/conResults.cfm?consultationId=1512
  2. The Pre-school Learning Alliance is the largest voluntary sector provider of quality affordable childcare and education in England.
  3. Through direct provision and its membership of 15,000 nurseries, sessional pre-schools and parent and toddler groups, the Alliance supports over 800,000 children and their families in England. The Alliance also develops and runs family learning programmes, offers information and advice, runs acclaimed training and accreditation programmes and campaigns to influence early years policy and practice.
  4. For information about the Pre-school Learning Alliance, visit our website: www.pre-school.org.uk
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